Event Details

Since the early 1990s, the demand for application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK) documentation for developers has grown rapidly and shows no signs of declining. At the same time, there’s a shortage of writers in this niche. They enjoy a steady income, higher hourly rates, and often the luxury of telecommuting.

Contrary to some perceptions, API/SDK writers are typically not computer programmers. They're technical writers who are detail oriented, who know how to glean information for documentation by reading developers' code and communicating well with developers. Although having familiarity with one or more programming languages is important, technical writers can leverage skills they already have to add value to API/SDK documentation, such as the ability to organize information, recognizing where important gaps in the content exist, and providing consistency in content and use of terms.

How do you enter and succeed in this market? Join Ed Marshall, a nationally recognized expert in API/SDK writing, for an introduction to this world of writing documentation for software developers on Saturday, June 4.

About the Instructor

Ed Marshall is an independent technical writing consultant and sole proprietor of Marshall Documentation Consulting (http://www.marshalldocumentationservices.com), with more than 23 years of experience. He specializes in APIs/SDKs (application programming interfaces/software development kits), Web services products, and other types of documentation aimed at developers. Throughout his career, Ed has developed expertise in using tools to "let the computer do the work," such as advanced tools for editing files, comparing files, and searching and replacing text in files.

Ed is a popular speaker at a variety of professional development conferences, locally and nationwide, including events sponsored by the Society for Technical Communication (STC), WritersUA, and DocTrain. Contact Ed at ed.marshall@verizon.net.

Cost: $595/person. For more details and to register, go to:http://www.tabbycatco.com/2011-06-04.html